Opinions wanted...

Went to a bike show last week put on by a sportsmans club where they had 3 categories; Custom American, Custom Metric and Vintage. (obviously they don't know jack about bikes with such limited classes..) My son and I took both my bikes up there. You all know VooDoo, not everyone's cup of tea, and I get that, but it's a bike I would say is in the Custom category. My Shadow, meh, not sure if it's Custom or Modified stock. Anyways, some guy with an 02' Honda cruiser, stock paint with bags and bling bolted on took the Metric class. Granted that was the ONLY class for metrics, but it got me to thinking, what would YOU say constitutes Custom vs Modified Stock. Does just a custom paint job= Custom or does custom require structural or body mods. Bolting bling on may be customizing your bike, but does that equal Custom? I am seriously thinking about organizing a show with appropriate classes and bikes that are properly classified.

Discuss...... and thanks!

MB

 

I would say if you're not fabricating parts, it's not custom. Just bolting stuff on makes it modified stock. There's nothing unique about stuff that comes off a shelf. That's the way I see it.

 

I agree with TomJ. What baffles me is that VooDoo didn't win. That bike is gorgeous. I want one. The problem is I wouldn't ride it. I'd just park it in the livingroom. (Honey, it's great conversation piece.)

 

LOL... yeah, I was a little mifffed, but then I took account of the judges...all part of a sporstman club for hunting...judge #1 Cowboy hat and boots walked right by VooDoo like it wasn't even there, #2 Big ol' pot belly and his AgriCorn hat, and sh1t kickers on... scratched his head a little when lookin' at it, #3 musta been pushin' 90 years old....and it was down hill from there..lol
It was very apparent by all their 'choices' that they were judging purely on personal taste, well that a general lack of knowledge...

 

My favorite quote on this topic and I don't know who said it is "custom don't come from a catalog."

 

Not to hi-jack my own thread... 8O
Here's the bike they voted as more 'Custom' than VooDoo..

 

Walking right by yours shows bias and close mindedness. Their, or his judgement, IMHO, is invalid.

It appears that they where looking for the "cues" that yours doesn't have. IMHO I would value the opinion regarding "Bohemian" from more sophisticated and open minded judges than these.

 

At some shows, it's open to interpretation.....

I have 3 first places and a third place for my 900rk.

The first place ones I got because of its "originality"..... It's unrestored. This past may I got the 3rd place trophy. The first place went to a brand spanking new occ-wannabe that was built on a Harley head tube from 1973. It won for it's "originality"...... 2nd went to an 81 honda shadow with a custom paint job and the rest was oxidized aluminum.... Yup, originality of the paint job.

Did I mention the category?------ motorcycle 79-86

 

Imo custom is something no one else has because it was specifically made bike. No one else has a Voodoo. Also, if I ever do a custom bike I would not replicate it. Custom is a one time deal. A large piece of originality is it's the only one like it.

Gary H.

 

I wouldn't get too worked up (not saying you are, easy ).

I agree that you should have won, that's a comfy looking albeit boring cruiser there in the picture (what about that trike to the left?).

That being said, maybe that 02 was local and had all his friends vote? Have you brought voodoo to that show previously? I know that shouldn't matter but maybe if you've won previously a sympathy vote may have come into play.

Marcel

 

Around here, if it ain't an HD, it don't win. Except the sport bike class.
And Mad, I wear a cowboy hat...and boots...and a big belt buckle. And I still love VooDoo. (Gawd, I want those fenders.)

 

Well he couldn't have been more local than me, this was like 4 mi down the raod from my house , and I did have my bike there last year, but didn't win anything . And yeah, it wasn't that big of a deal, at least I got two beers for my $10 entry fee

Nothin' against cowboy hats and boots, and yeah, they only had HD winning last year. When they asked me what I thought about the show, I told them I thought they needed to split the American and Metric classes. Last year they had Stock, Custom and vintage, (and people's choice).

 

In my opinion, custom means paint and fabricated parts. But fabricated parts can be "hand made" or manufactured parts that are "altered by hand" to fit.

That Honda probably won because the dipsh*t judges thought it looked like a Harley. Voodoo should've won hands down.